Manufacture of shovels



(No Model.)

J. G. RUSSELL.

MANUFACTURE OF SHOVELS, SPADES, AND SCOOPS. No. 351,342. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

wig Z5555. lgnfimm- Q M CL jga Warren States PATENT FFICEQ 'MANUFACTURE oFsHovELs, SPADES, AND scoops.

ESPECIFIJATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 351 342, dated October 19, 1886.

Application filed July 13, 1886. Serial No. 207,868. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. RUssELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture 0t Shovels, Spades, and Scoops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of shovels,spades,and scoops; and it consists in cutting the blanks from a slab or bar of about twice the thickness the blades are to have, and of about half their length and. full width, welding thereto straps for sockets, and lengthening and finishing the blades, by the use of eccentric rollers, in one heat, as will be fully described hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention.

Figure 1 shows the form of thc blank; Fig.

2, the depression on the blank and its elongation. Fig. 3 represents the socket-strap; Fig. at, a finished shovel.

The blanks for shovels are generally cut from finished sheet steel of a thickness the blades are to have, and of a width equal to the length of the blades. To them the straps forming sockets are welded or riveted. Being of uniform thickness, the blades are unavoidably weakened by the holes punched through them for the rivets at a place where the blades ought to be strong to bear the strain of lifting by the handle. The frequent breaking of the shovels at the riveted part of the socket proves this. lVhen the straps are welded to blanks of uniform thickness, they form ridges on the faces of the shovels that prevent or obstruct their use for certain purposes without adding strength to them.

I cut my blanks from slabs or bars of about twice the thickness the blades are to have when finished, and of about one-half their length and full width.

In the blank a a depression, 0, ismade from its upper edge downward in the form of the lower end, 12, of the socket strap 0, thereby reducing at this place the thickness of the metal to one-half the thickness of the blank.

In making the depression Z) the metal is drawn out from the lower surface, as at 9, Fig. 2, to form when out and trimmed at its edges (7, the under side of a socket for the handle at. Over the depression 7), upon the surface of the plate, is placed the end a of the strap 0 and welded, forming the upper part of the socket. This having been accomplished,-the blanks, now provided with sockets, are still. of twice the thickness and only half the length the shovels are to have. To reduce and lengthen them to the desire size, they are subjected to the action of eccentric rollers and worked to retain greater thickncss at the socket and middle, gradually diminishing toward the sides and cuttingedge. The edges of the strap 0, bent back over the blade, meet at the rear of the han dle, partly overlapping the shorter strap 9, and are secured to the handle by pins and rivets h.

In the manufacture of shovels, spades, 0r scoops according to my invention, much labor is saved and no losses are sustained in the cutting out of blanks or by trimming of the blades after the sockets have been formed.

The faces of the blades of my manufacture are free from roughness,and after being rolled require but little polishing, by which nearly one-half-of the cost of finishing blades of sheet steel is saved.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The manner described ol'prepari ng blanks for shovels, spades, or scoops, by cutting them from slabs or bars of about twice the thickness the blades are to have when finished, and then forming one half of the socket in the blank and the other half by means of a strap, which is welded to the blank over the depression formed in its upper edge, and

then drawing the straps which form the socket to the required length and form, substantially as described.

2. In the manufacture of blanks for shovels, spades, or scoops, the manner of drawing out the material of the blank to form the under part of thesocket and a short strap, as described.

3. The forming of a socket by a depression in the blank,and a strap welded over the depression, leaving no outward trace of its attachment, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. RUSSELL.

Vitnesses:

Louis Monsnn, T. F. LEHMANN.

ICO 

